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In the news today, Nov. 16

Patrick Deegan, a senior range officer at the Shooting Edge, looks through the scope of long gun at the store in Calgary on September 15, 2010. Investigations into whether gun licences should be revoked due to violent incidents or mental illness have faced "significant delays" that could endanger public safety, says an internal RCMP review. A lack of timely access to certain police and medical information has contributed to processing backlogs for firearms officers reviewing licence eligibility, warns the newly released audit report. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Five stories in the news for Friday, Nov. 16

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REVIEW FINDS GUN LICENCE SCREENING BACKLOGS

Investigations into whether gun licences should be revoked due to violent incidents or mental illness have faced “significant delays” that could endanger public safety, says an internal RCMP review. A lack of timely access to certain police and medical information has contributed to processing backlogs for firearms officers reviewing licence eligibility, warns the newly released audit report. The audit results come as the Liberal government studies options — including a possible ban on handguns and assault weapons — to deal with growing firearm-related violence.

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SENTENCING HEARING FOR DELLEN MILLARD TODAY

A Toronto man found guilty of killing his father is up for a sentencing hearing today. In September, a judge found Dellen Millard guilty of the first-degree murder of Wayne Millard, whose death was initially ruled a suicide. It was the third such conviction for Dellen Millard, who was previously found guilty of murdering his former lover Laura Babcock and Hamilton man Tim Bosma, a complete stranger. Prosecutors have told the judge they will ask for an additional 25 years of parole ineligibility on top of the 50 years Millard must serve in prison without parole for the previous murders.

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CANNABIS BLACK MARKET LIVES ON, FOR NOW

It’s been nearly a month since recreational pot was legalized across Canada, and despite raids by local police departments and government warnings to illegal pot shop operators to shutter their doors or face consequences, the black market continues on. Product shortages, delivery delays and other problems plaguing the roll-out have not helped, said Martin Landry, an analyst with GMP Securities. He said the shift away from the black market has not happened as fast as most expected, but he said he thinks it’s short term. Canada legalized cannabis for recreational use on Oct. 17 with the elimination of the black market as one of the Liberal government’s main goals.

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SICK NOTE REQUIREMENT A STEP BACKWARD: CMA

A national doctors’ group is raising concerns about the Ontario government’s move to allow employers to require workers to provide a doctor’s note to explain even minor illnesses, such as the common cold. Canadian Medical Association president Dr. Gigi Osler says the measure could cause public health issues, as it will lead to sick people going to the doctor’s office or to work, rather than staying home. The CMA has released the results of an online survey it commissioned to gauge opinion on the issue. It says the poll, conducted by Ipsos, suggests a majority of working Canadians oppose allowing employers to require sick notes for minor illnesses.

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BREXIT ABOUT SOVEREIGNTY, NOT TRADE: SCHEER

Canadian Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says his support for Britain’s departure from the European Union is undiminished, despite the chaos Brexit has sown in British politics. The United Kingdom was plunged into uncertainty Thursday as Prime Minister Theresa May’s new Brexit deal with Europe met a rash of criticism. Two cabinet ministers resigned, the British pound fell sharply, and part of May’s own Conservative caucus was trying to take her out. Scheer said his support for Britain’s move out of the EU rests not on economics or the practicalities of trade, but rather on the principle of sovereignty.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS:

— Two separate conferences that will bring together delegates and security experts from around the world are set to begin today in Halifax. The high-level discussions are being held the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the Halifax International Security Forum.

— Statistics Canada is expected to release its monthly survey of manufacturing for September and Canada’s international transactions in securities for September.

— A judge is expected to hand down a verdict in the trial for a youth charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Mac’s convenience store worker during a robbery in December 2015.